Survey: Md., Va., health and well-being dip

WASHINGTON – Both Maryland and Virginia dropped in an annual assessment of states’ health and well-being.

Gallup released it’s annual “State of American Well-being” rankings, which judge each state on six categories including physical and emotional health, work life, healthy behaviors and access to health care.

According to the rankings, Maryland dropped from 11 to 18 and Virginia dropped from 14 to 24 – enough to push the state into the middle third of states. The index compares all 50 states but does not include D.C.

West Virginia ranked last for the fifth year in a row, according to Gallup.

North Dakota had the best overall composite score, helped by its booming oil economy. People in Vermont, which ranked sixth overall, consume the greatest amount of produce, the report found.

Colorado and Minnesota residents benefit from having safe places to exercise, the report found.

In the six years since Gallup began its annual review of well-being, the national composite has barely budged and dipped slightly in 2013.